Paperboard pallet



W. E. COLEMAN ETAL Sept. 23, 1952 PAPERBOARD PALLET F iled March 26, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIII 1 Patented Sept. 23, 1952 PAPERBOARD PALLET Wiilits E. Coleman, Norristown, and James P. H. Leavitt, Wayne, Pa., assignors to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application March 26, 1948, Serial No. 17,308

3 Claims.

This invention relates, generally, to means for carrying loads which can be picked up conveniently by a fork lift truck or the like and it has particular relation to disposable pallets of such inexpensive construction that they can be disposed of after use with a. single load.

Among the objects of this invention are: To provide a paper pallet that may be readily and economically manufactured; to support a paperboard panel on which a relatively heavy load may be placed by reenforced paperboard tubes; to secure thetubes to the underside of the panel in collapsed form in order to minimize the space required for shipping the pallets and storing the same; to reenforce the tubes by compression resisting memberspositioned in spaced relation within the same; to space the compression resisting members apartin the tube; to prevent movement of the compression resisting members out of the ends of the tubes; to space load-securing bands from a load on the panel by flaps and tongues extending from the ends and sides of the tubes above the panel; toprovide for receiving load-securing bands transversely of the tubes by registering apertures therein; and to construct the compression resisting members with grooves on their under sides for accommodating loadsecuring bands extending through the tubes.

Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

This invention is disclosed in the'embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and it comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified inthe constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of this invention reference can be had to the following detailed description, taken together with the accompany drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a paperboard pallet constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view or" the paperboard pallet shown in Figure 1 with a load of sheet material thereon and bound by load-securing bands extending therearound in planes at right angles to each other;

Figures 3 and 4 are detail sectional views taken along the lines 3-3 and lt respectively of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one end of 2 one of the tubes that extends along one of the sides of the paperboard panel of the pallet;

Figure 6 is an end view of the pallet shown in Figure 1 with the supporting tubes in collapsed condition;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the blank that can be used in forming the paperboard tubes shown in the preceding figures;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of pallet construction in which solid reenforcing blocks are provided in spaced positions within the paperboard tubes; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the reenforcing blocks employed in the construction shown in Figure 8.

Referring now particularly to- Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character 10 designates, generally, a paperboard pallet constructed in accordance with this invention. In using the term paperboard herein it is intended to refer to and include fibreboard,

corrugated board and like paper products which are relatively stiff and are capable of withstanding substantial loads. The paperboard pallet It includes a paperboard panel H which may be generally rectangular as shown. It will be understood that the paperboard panel II also may comprise the bottom of a paperboard container which serves to hold any type of material that may be packaged therein. In the drawings the paperboard panel H is illustrated as a rectangular sheet of paperboard on which any suitable type of load may be carried as will appear hereinafter.

It is desirable to space the paperboard panel H, or the bottom of' a box if the panel I l forms the same, from the floor or similar loads if the loads are stacked one above the other to permit handling by a fork lift truck or the like. Accordingly on the under side or face of the paperboard panel H there are secured by suitable adhesive means or staples I2 paperboard tubes that are indicated, generally, at E3. The paperboard tubes l 3 are generally rectangular in crosssection and are arranged parallel to each other underneath the panel ll so as to provide spaces l4 therebetween to permit entry of the tines of a fork lift truck or the ropes of a sling for handling the same. It will be noted that three paperboard tubes 13 are illustrated in the drawings. Two of these are located along the sides of the paperboard panel ll while the other is located midway between them. The paperboard tubes I3 extend to the ends of the panel II. It will be understood that only two of the tubes l3 may be employed or that more than three may be used if desired. Also it will be understood that the panel H may be square or it may be longer than it is wide depending upon the size and character of the load to be handled.

In Figure 2 of the drawings a load is in the form of a stack of sheets of paperboard is illustrated as being positioned on the paperboard pallet iEi constructed in accordance with this invention. The load [5 may be bound by sets of load-securing metal bands it and i1. It will be observed that the set of metal bands it extends through the openings in the paperboard tubes 13 and around the ends of the load 15. The other set of load-securing metal bands l? is located in planes which are at right angles to the planes of the bands IS and they extend around the sides of the load i5 and through the paperboard tubes 13 in a manner to be described.

As illustrated in Figure 6 the paperboard panel I may have the tubes l3 secured thereto in collapsed condition. This reduces the space required for shipping and storing the assembly. When it is desired to use the paperboard pallet of the present invention, the collapsed tubes it are expanded to their rectangular configurations and are held thus in a manner to be described.

A blank for forming one of the paperboard tubes 13 is illustrated in Figure I It will be noted that the blank includes a top section 29 which is immediately adjacent the underside or face of the paperboard panel ii and is secured thereto by adhesive or by the staples 12. The

blank has a bottom section 2i which is intended to engage the floor or another load in the event that the loads are stacked one above the other. The top and bottom sections and 22 are joined by side sections 22 and a flap 213 extends from one edge of the bottom section 2! for folding over one of the side sections 22, as shown in Figures l and 5, to which it is held by a suitabl adhesive or staples It will be observed that the top section 28 has top end flaps extending therefrom. As shown in Figure 2 these end flaps 29 are arranged to be turned upwardly past the surface of the paperboard panel ii for the purpose of spacing the straps i 6 from the load it.

The bottom section 2! has and flaps 2i and the side sections 22 have side end flaps 22' all of which are arranged to be turned inwardly as illustrated more clearly in Figure 5 of the drawings. The sections 2%, 2i and. 22 and the flap 23 may be folded to provide the rectangular construction along longitudinal score lines 25. Transverse score lines 2% are provided. for the top, bottom and side end flaps 2G, 2! and 22'.

With a view to chasing the metal bands I? from the load is and to permit their being inserted through the tubes i 3 tongues 28 are struck from the side sections 22 and are foldable along the score lines 25 at the edges of the top section 25. When the tongues 2 are folded away from the side sections 22 apertures 33 are provided through which the bands I? may be threaded as illustrated in Figure 2. it will be understood that the apertures 38 in the several tubes iii are in registry so that the bands i i can be threaded directly therethrough. The tongues 29 that are immediately adjacent the edges of the panel H are turned upwardly, as illustrated in Figures 2, a and 5, so as to provide the desired spacing between the band i? and the load Id.

In order to provide the desired degree of rigidity in the generally rectangular paperboard tubes l3 so that they will resist without collapsing the load to be imposed thereon and to hold the same in the rectangular position, compression resisting members 3i are provided therein as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. The compression resisting members 3! may be in the form of thick walled rings of chip board and, as shown in the drawings, are located with their longitudinal axes normal to the plane of the paperboard panel ii. It will be understood that the members 3! act principally in compression for which purpose their shape makes them readily suitable. The members 3i are prevented from moving longitudinally out of the tubes l3 by the abutment which is provided by the inturned bottom and side end flaps 2 I and 22'. It will be understood that the members 3! are inserted in the tubes 13 and that subsequently these end flaps are turned inwardly to provide the desired abutment for holding the members 3! therein.

The lengths of the compression resisting memhere 3! may be such that they fit snugly within the sections forming the paperboard tubes 13. In such case they are frictionally held therein and thereby prevented from shifting longitudinally. If desired, spacers 32, in the form of flat strips of paperboard, can be provided within the tubes l3 for maintaining the members iii in the desired spaced relation. As shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, the spacers 32 extend diagonally across the rectangular opening of the tubes l3. The number of spacers 32 and members 3i required depends upon the character of the load 15 that is to be transported by the paperboard pallet ili. Also the number depends. upon the length of the tubes It.

In Figure 8 of the drawings, the reference character it designates, generally, a paperboard pallet which is modified somewhat from the construction of the pallet i5 described hereinbefore. The pallet iii includes the paperboard panel H which, as previously described, may constitute the bottom of a box; and which has secured to its underside or face paperboard tubes i3 which are similar to the paperboard tubes l3, described hereinbefore, except for the omission of the flaps 28, 2! and 22' and the tongues 2b. The paperboard tubes i3' can be secured to the underside or face of the panel i i .and the assembly shipped in the collapsed form as illustrated in Figure 6.

The tubes 13 can be held in the desired rectangular configuration by compression resisting members 35 which also serve to reenforce the tubes i3 and enable them to carry the load 15. The members 35, as shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, are in the form or rectangular blocks, preferably of wood, which completely fill the tubes i3 except for the provision of a slot on the underside which permits the metal bands i5 to be threaded therethrough as illustrated in Figure 8. The other metal bands I? extend around the load it? and also around the tubes if. at positions where they are co-extensive with the members 35. It will. be understood that at least three of the rectangular blocks or members 35 are provided in each of the tubes l8, one at each end and one intermediate the ends around which the intermediate metal band H can be secured.

Since certain further changes can be made in the foregoing constructions and difierent embodiments oi the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereon. it is intended that all matter shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinbefore shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a paperboard pallet for use with fork lift trucks, a load receiving platform, tubular members of substantially rectangular cross section secured to the under face of said platform in parallel spaced relation and collapsible against the under face of said platform, a plurality of load supporting members fittin within the respective tubular members spaced apart lengthwise thereof and restraining the latter against collapse under load, said tubular member having means at their ends restraining the end ones of said load supporting members against movement outward of said tubular members, and spacing and reinforcing members fitting within the respective tubular members and between the load supporting members therein efiective for restraining said load supporting members against relative movement lengthwise of said tubular members while also supplementing said load supporting members in supporting the load and restraining said tubular members against collapse.

2. In a paperboard pallet for use with fork lift trucks, a load receiving platform, tubular members of substantially rectangular cross section secured to the under face of said platform in parallel spaced relation and collapsible against the under face of said platform, a plurality of load supporting members fitting within the respective tubular members spaced apart lengthwise thereof and restraining the latter against collapse under load, said tubular members having at their ends elements positionable clear of the ends of said tubular members to provide unobstructed openings for insertion of said load supporting members and positionable within the ends of said tubular member providing abutments restraining the end ones of said load supporting members against movement outward of said tubular members, and spacing and reinforcing members fitting within the respective tubular members and between the load supporting members therein effective for restraining said load supporting members against relative movement lengthwise of said tubular members while also supplementing said load supporting members in supporting the load and restraining said tubular members against collapse.

3. In a paperboard pallet for use with fork lift trucks, a load receiving platform, tubular members of substantially rectangular cross section secured to the under face of said platform in parallel spaced relation and collapsible against the under face of said platform, a plurality of load supporting members fitting within the respective tubular members spaced apart lengthwise thereof and restraining the latter against collapse under load, said tubular members having end flaps foldable to position clear of the ends of said tubu 1ar members to provide unobstructed openings for insertion of said load supporting members and foldable inward into the ends of said tubular members providin abutments restraining the end WILLITS E. COLEMAN. JAMES P. H. LEAVITT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,508,898 Smith Sept. 16, 1924 2,159,622 Sanford May 23, 1939 2,383,730 Fallert Nov. 13, 1945 2,444,183 Cahners June 29, 1948 2,446,914 Fallert Aug. 10, 1948 2,447,285 Simonton et a1. Aug. 17, 1948 2,503,240 Cahners Apr. 11, 1950 2,559,930 Bolton et a1 July 10, 1951 

